Not a school teacher at all.........far from it! Although my brother was a teacher for a while, but I don't think that counts. I'd like to have been an editor or proof reader but.
Were I a school teacher I might pick you up on how to spell criticism but, as I am not, I shall refrain.
In the meantime, as far as I can see, there's not a lot of constructive criticism of referees in this forum. Criticism yes, constructive no; it is mainly bitching and moaning about how rubbish they are as a collective group - whether we look at internationals, S14 or local. Perhaps if you could offer some constructive criticism at some stage.....
Also, I do not take any of it personally. Really. I merely put the alternative perspective as an active referee.
Further; there is no new law about rolling away. It has always been in law. Well, not always, but for the past several years. If you'd like my take on it: in previous seasons it has been the case that, provided the person on the ground (tackler or tackled player) has no material effect on the contest for the ball, while he (or she) is liable to penalty, there is no need to penalise. In more recent times it has been desirable to clear the tackle area completely, so every player off their feet near the ball needs to clear it. They need to show the referee that they are making every effort to roll away or somehow move away from the tackle area. This starts with the tackler (if there is one - you can refer to the law about what constitutes a tackler).
In relation to your bet: I bet you that, if anyone asks me the question about it, I will still penalise them if they don't roll away. I tell the captains prior to the match that there might even be some times when the folk on the ground cannot roll away because there are other bodies or legs or feet in the way but they will still get penalised. That is rare but it can happen.
I personally don't pick and choose, other than whether or not there is a contest for the ball. If the tackle comes, the arriving players (usually 6, 7 or 8) clear out the opposition and the ball is available for the attacking team to play, then we shall play on. If it is a dominant tackle and the loosies are ineffective, or even if the tackler's loosies do their job well and the tackled player does not move, he/she shall be penalised (after playing advantage, of course).
And, finally, I choose not to explain what has been discussed about the advantage law, save to point out that maybe you should read what the law actually says, and whom is the sole judge of whether advantage has been gained or not. No, actually, I shall go a bit further; it is most likely that the ref will allow more time for advantage to manifest itself if the sanction is a penalty than if it were a scrum.
I am often fascinated by how much the players thinks they know the laws and it is very common that, the more they talk about them, the less they obviously know. Some of you dear readers might make the same observations about the referee but hey, refer to the law about who is right during a game
You shall find that I often respond to posts while my tongue is in my cheek. I hope you take my posts in the spirit they are intended. If not then the problem is yours, not mine.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Reds81
